Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Medals wait at the finish line for participants finishing the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Samantha Solomon jumps across an obstacle at the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course, set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

University of Tennessee students Sterling Van Der Voort and Spring Smith take on the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Marty Iroff laughs as he slides down the final Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Runners follow the course towards the finish line of the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course, set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Robert Hatcher, 11, Isabella Hatcher, 7, Victoria Bruno and Ryan Pinyan pose for a photo after completing the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Jennifer and Brandon Shown, brother and sister, take on the final Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Sheryl Tree makes it over one of the final obstacles at the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Runners take on the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Runners take on the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

Ashley Kirby and Sheryl Tyree help teach other up a hill during the Xtreme Air 5K inflatable obstacle course set up in Chilhowee Park on Saturday, April 30, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) (Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN)

They ran, walked, bounced, climbed, slid and conquered.

About 500 thrill-seekers of all ages participated in Saturday's Xtreme Air 5K Race, which offered a course of challenging inflatable obstacles on the grounds of the Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center in Knoxville.

It might have looked like an inflatable theme park for children, but this was hardly kid stuff.

The course included 12 mammoth inflatables — some more than three stories high.

The inflatables, which are custom-made in California, cost at least $25,000 apiece.

Each — with ominous names like the Beast, the Cliffhanger and the Gauntlet — offered unique challenges.

"This is so fun," said 31-year-old Kelly Pistole of Knoxville, after making it through the Gauntlet, the fifth of 12 obstacles that weighed between 2,500 and 3,000 pounds each.

The 150-foot-long Gauntlet boasted barricades, swinging balls and required participants to climb to a second level about 20 feet high.

"It took a lot of leaps and bounds," said Pistole, who ran the course with 36-year-old Melody Kidd of Knoxville. "There were a lot of things we had to jump over and plow through. We have laughed hard. I like to have fun. Both of us are trying to get healthier and stay in shape."

Saturday was the first stop in Knoxville for Xtreme Air, which will hold about 25 events throughout the country this year.

"It's a family-based business run out of South Florida," said Amy Kaiser, who owns Xtreme Air with her husband, Doug. "It's a testing course for people of all ages.

"We have a height requirement of at least 48 inches, so we have people here today from 7 or 8 years old to people in their 60s. We also have a lot of families here today."

Kaiser said the event stresses fun more than competitiveness.

"We have a lot of first-timers today," she said. "Some said they were nervous because this is their first 5K."

Participants — who started the race in waves — paid between $40 and $50 apiece to experience the obstacle course, which culminated with a 36-foot climb and slide to the finish line.

Finishers received medals, T-shirts, backpacks and bottles of water.

"I think the water was my favorite," said Jason True of Rockwood, who toured the course in about 35 minutes.

"It was fun and challenging," he said, taking of swig of water.

True joined forces with 8-year-old Jacob Cameron during the race, and the two were the first to cross the finish line.

"That boy is strong," True said.

Read or Share this story: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2016/04/30/xtreme-air-race-puts-runners-to-the-test/90908332/